Cortez Real Estate | Montezuma County

Looking for Cortez, Colorado real estate for sale? Cortez is the largest city and county seat of Montezuma County. The home-rule municipality has a population of approximately 8,750 residents and sits at an elevation of 6,191 feet in the Colorado high desert. Cortez is one of the largest towns in southwest Colorado, about 40 miles from the Four Corners Monument. There are numerous real estate listings in Cortez, starting at about $175,000. Most houses for sale in Cortez are about $250,000 - although some are considerably more based on age, size and amenities.

Many residents who live here initially chose Cortez for its affordability, beauty and outdoor adventure. Cortez is centrally located between several parks, monuments and other points of interest, like Mesa Verde National Park, McPhee Reservoir and Hesperus Ski Area. Utah's iconic Monument Valley is about 100 miles from Cortez.

Most of the homes for sale in Cortez are within the city limits. Several properties are near major roads like North Broadway (U.S. Highway 491) and Main Street (U.S. Highway 160). In-town homes for sale range primarily from two to four bedrooms with around 2,000 feet of living space. There are newer homes and well-kept older houses available for purchase. Many are only a few blocks from the town's historic downtown section that has various shops and restaurants.

For those looking to build a dream home in Cortez, the place to do it may be just west of town. There, you can find multi-acre lots in a newer subdivision that is largely undeveloped. A 35-acre lot with mountain views, irrigation and domestic water, and electricity is listed for sale for around $335,000. It's an ideal location for a ranch or sprawling estate with few neighbors. There are also smaller lots in the area with about three acres of unimproved land that list for approximately $80,000.

More affordable vacant lots are available south of East 7th Street, off Bluffs Boulevard and L Way. You can find undeveloped lots with 6,000 to 9,000 square feet of building space there for about $18,000.

Neighborhood Highlights:

• At 8,880 feet above sea level, Hesperus is one of the few resorts in southwestern Colorado to offer night skiing from 4-9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the winter. Kids 12 and under and seniors over 75 can ski free every day. Hesperus also has multiple lanes for snow tubing.
• The town was built in 1886 and named for Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.
• Several prehistoric sites on the State or National Register of Historic Places surround Cortez. This includes the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Mesa Verde State Park, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, and Hovenweep National Monument.
• Mesa Verde is an excellent spot for camping. The national park has more than 265 campsites at Morefield Campground. There is additional camping at Mancos State Park and Hovenweep National Monument.
• The local fishing hole is Totten Lake, just east of downtown Cortez. The small reservoir is teeming with pike, catfish and largemouth bass.
• Cortez has fun annual events scheduled throughout the year. There is a 12-hour endurance bike race and a birding festival in May. Every June, there is a local rodeo and a lively Celtic festival. You can't go wrong visiting the Montezuma County Fair in July and August. October brings the annual pumpkin festival with hayrack rides and decorating.